Weeder.



S. EfBALL.

WEEDER.

APPLICATION 311.31 MAR. 31, 1010.

969,947., Patented June 7,1910.

SARAH E. BALL, OF RITCHEY, ILLINOIS.

WEEDER.

Application filed March 31, 1910.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '7, 1910.

Serial No. 552,625.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SARAH E. BALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ritchey, in the county of Till, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Weeders; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to garden implements, more particularly to theclass known as weeders, or implements to destroy weeds, and which mayalso be employed for loosening the soil in the neighborhood of plantsand for like purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructedimplement which may be drawn over the soil and operated in twodirections.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement which may beemployed as a weeder or as a trowel or to form apertures in the soil toreceive the plants.

lVith these and other objects in view, the

- invention consists in certain novel features of construction ashereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in theclaims; and, in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved implement,Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1, with the handle attached.

The body portion of the improved device is preferably constructed fromone single piece either cast or forged, and will preferably be of steel,and comprises a head 10 and a plurality of bars 17 extending from thehead and spaced at equal distances apart. The bars 17 are preferablyfiat vertically and terminate in points 18 at their free ends. Extendinglaterally from each of the bars are V-shaped cutting blades 19, similarin shape to the knives of a mowing machine, as shown. An uneven numberof the bars 17 will preferably be employed and for the the construction,and two sets of the blades 19 are employed upon the central bar andextending in opposite directions, as shown. The blades 19 of theremaining bars will be directed toward the central bar from one side, asshown.

A suitable handle is connected to the head member 10, and for thepurpose of illustration the head member is provided with spaced threadedstuds indicated at 20, and fitting over these studs is the T-head member21 of a handle 22, the member 21 being secured in position by clamp nuts23. By this means the handle and the weeder structure may be separatedwhen required. The handle 22 will preferably be located at an angle tothe longitudinal plane of the bars 17, so that when operated the blades19 may be moved over the earth in parallel relations thereto, and thusbe operated without fatigue. The various blades 19 are spaced from thebars 17 and from each other to provide a space for the entrance of theweed stocks when the implement is bein used.

It will thus be obvious that an efli cient and convenient implement isproduced whereby weeds may be expeditiously destroyed when the implementis drawn forwardly and backwardly over the ground. By arranging theblades 19 with the V-shaped cutting edges it will be obvious that theimplement may be operated when moved in both directions, so that theweeds will be severed at both the forward and the return stroke of theimplement. This very materially increases the efiiciency and utility ofthe device and likewise materially increases the speed with which it isactuated. When the blades 19 become dulled they can be readily sharpenedwith a file or grindstone in the same manner as mowing machines aresharpened.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In an implement of the class described aplurality of bars spaced apart and each bar formed with a plurality ofV-shaped cutting blades extending laterally therefrom.

2. In an implement of the class described,

a head, a plurality of bars spaced apart and extending from said head,and a plurality of V-shaped cutting blades extending laterally from eachof said bars.

8. In an implement of the class described, a central bar and a pluralityof bars spaced apart at each side of said central bar, a plurality ofV-shaped cutting blades extending laterally from each side of thecentral bar,.

a head, a central ,bar extending from ,Said;

head, a plurality of 'bars spaced apart and extending from said head ateach side of the central bar, a plurality of V-shaped cutting bladesextending from said central bar at each side thereof, and a plurality ofV- shaped cutting blades extending from one side of each of said side.bars and directed toward the central bar.

5. In an implement of the class described, a head having threaded studsextending from one side-and a plurality of bars spaced apart andextending from thenother side, a

plurality of V-shaped cutting blades extend- ;ing vlaterally from eachof said bars, and a 20 T-member engaged by said studs and having handleextending therefrom.

6. An implement of the class described vvcomprisinga head, a pluralityof bars spaced SARAH E. BALL. WVitnesses;

F RANcIs MILLE IDA "VVAL'roN.

